The SOS-UK Drug and Alcohol Impact Accreditation - a student-led education charity – reflects the University’s strong partnership with the Students’ Union to promote a harm reduction approach.

A key aim of the Newcastle collaboration is to minimise harm, provide stigma-free support and ensure the safety of students.

With recent guidance from Universities UK calling for a sector-wide harm reduction approach to student drug use, Newcastle University and Newcastle University Students’ Union (NUSU) have successfully implemented these recommendations, demonstrating the positive changes that have followed.

‘Key successes’

The University’s accretion process was led by Ed Hillier and Holly Smith from Student Health and Wellbeing and Kay Hattam from NUSU.

The recent two-day audit by the SOS-UK Drug and Alcohol Impact Accreditation team highlighted several key successes: 

• Strong collaboration with external stakeholders: The partnership has successfully engaged with a variety of external organisations, including Public Health, Newcastle Treatment and Recovery, Newcastle City Council and Northumbria Police, enabling a coordinated and collaborative approach. This alignment across multiple sectors has helped maximise resources and expertise. 
• Comprehensive communications: A wide range of communications on drug and alcohol topics has been provided, from awareness stands to events, ensuring that important messages reach diverse audiences in an engaging and accessible way.  
• Staff engagement at all levels: The involvement of staff across all levels demonstrates the deep integration of the work within both the University and the Students' Union. The partnership’s top-down, middle, and bottom-up strategy has been key to the programme’s success. 
• Effective collaboration with academics: The partnership has effectively worked with academics, as demonstrated through impactful campaigns such as the ketamine campaign and smart drug awareness. This collaboration ensures that campaigns are based on the latest research, providing students with credible, relevant, and evidence-based information.

Sally Ingram, Director of Student Health and Wellbeing at Newcastle University, said: “We are delighted to be awarded the SOS-UK Drugs and Alcohol Impact Accreditation, highlighting the longstanding collaboration between the University and Students’ Union in creating a drug and alcohol harm reduction community.

“Our focus is on providing students with the support, education, and resources they need to make informed decisions about drugs and alcohol, while minimising any potential risks.

“This national accreditation recognises our hard work of student and colleagues and determination as we continue to develop our wellbeing and guidance in this area.”

‘Student wellbeing focus’

SOS-UK trained Newcastle University student volunteers to audit their institution. 

One student auditor said: “The partnership clearly demonstrates a strong willingness and understanding of the importance of promoting safe alcohol consumption and harm reduction drugs policies, which has been particularly reflected in their work across the last two years.”  

Whilst another commented, “Staff all seem to have student wellbeing at the focus- they know that drugs and alcohol is a factor which can impact upon student wellbeing and therefore is something that needs addressing- quite progressive attitude rather than ignoring/not raising issues.” 

Kay Hattam, NUSU Wellbeing and Support Coordinator, said: “Here at the Students' Union, students are at the centre of everything we do. Taking student voices on board, being progressive and understanding needs effectively is crucial in our work.

“Taking part in the Drug and Alcohol Impact programme was important to us in working together as a Union and University to provide support and information across every part of the University community. 

“We are grateful to all of the amazing students who have supported this work from campaigning and lobbying to the wonderful student auditors who have provided a clear path for progress.”